Down the Road to a Steeple Chase, which I had never seen before, and did
much long to behold: for of all Things I do love Diversion and
Merriment; and both MR. STRAPPES and SIR WILLIAM SPURKINS did tell me
there would be rare Sport. Got a Place in the Grand Stand, cost me
half-a-Guinea, which was loth to part with, but thought I should have
brave Entertainment for so much Money. Did find myself here in fine
Company, Dukes, and Earls, and Lords and Ladies too, which did please
me; but among them some Snobs, in Stable-cut-Clothes, with spotted
Neckcloths and Fox-headed Breast-pins; though some of these were Lords
too, who seemed to have been at Pains to look like Ostlers. To see the
Crowd on Horseback and in Carriages, and those on Foot pushing and
scrambling, and trampling each other to get a Sight of the Course, as if
there had been going to be a Coronation, or a Man hanged! The Course,
marked out with Flags, and having Hurdles, Posts, Fences, Rails,
Hedges, Drains, Ditches, and Brooks in the Way; and this Sportsmen do
call the Country, and say such a Country is a Teaser, and so I should
think. By-and-by Jockies in their Saddles, but their word is Pig-skins,
looking, in their gay Colours, like Tulips on Horseback, which was a
pretty Sight. Then a Bell rung to clear the Course, and the Horses with
their Riders drawn up ready to start, and presently a Flag flourished
for a Signal: and so they off. Good Lack, to see them galloping
helter-skelter, like mad, through Rivers, and over Hedges and Ditches,
and the whole Thing done in ten Minutes! Some did jump the Fences and
Hedges, which they about me did term Raspers, clean over; but others not
so lucky, and stuck in Brambles or on Stakes, or between double Rows of
Posts, with a Quickset in the Middle, whereof the cant name is
Bullfinchers. Others upset in Ditches; and one or two of them not able
to get up again, and carried away upon some of the Hurdles; and when the
Race was over, three Horses found lying with their Backs broken, and so
shot. SIR WILLIAM did inform me that it was a tidy Field, which I could
not agree, with the Raspers and Palisades upon it, and the Horses
spiked, or sprawling with their Riders on the Ground with broken Backs
and Limbs. Nor did I understand the Fun of this Part of the Thing;
wherefore I suppose I must be dull; for it do seem to be the chief
Delight that People take in it. For, as if the Gates and Rails belonging
to the Ground were not dangerous enough, they do set up others called
made Fences, being stubborn Posts and Stakes twisted with Briars and
Brambles, which do seem to be meant for Nothing but to be tumbled over,
and in that Case to do as much Mischief, as may be, to Man and Beast.
The Horses mostly ridden by Jockeys for Hire; but some by their Owners,
who, methinks, do set a sufficient Value upon their own Existence when
they venture their Necks in riding a Steeple Chase; but I do blame them
for risking the Life of a useful Horse.
[Illustration: _YE COMMONS RESSOLVED INTO A COMMYTTE OF YE WHOLE HOUSE._